Chipolopolo Boys head coach Avram Grant says his side wants to win the two back to back Group E 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier games against Tanzania and Niger.
Grant who was speaking at a press conference earlier today at Football House said Tanzania are a very good side and are tough to beat in their backyard.
The Israeli gaffer was however categorical that the Chipolopolo are also a strong side and want to win next week’s encounter.
“We want to win these two games. But as you say, we need to kill each game by itself. The first game against Tanzania is away. It’s very tough to play against Tanzania, but as you saw in the last game and the games before, we have a good team. Tanzania is very strong in their home, but we are strong also, so we want to win this game,” Grant said.
The former Chelsea boss believes his side can still finish in second place in the group despite currently occupying 4th place with 6 points to their name after 6 games.
The COSAFA giants need to win both games to stand a chance to finish second while Tanzania needs to win against Zambia to stay in the forefront for the race for second place while Niger also have a chance to finish second with two wins in their last two games.
“We want to win these two games and be in second place in our group. It is possible,” he said.
Grant believes Zambia are playing good football and are improving despite the recent results.
The Chipolopolo Boys are winless in their last eight games in all competitions, drawing one and losing the remaining seven games.
“If we speak pure football, we are playing good, we are improving. We are on the right path. It’s a process to put Zambia among the biggest in Africa,” he said.
“We have an identity, we have a strategy that we play all the time, and we need to continue what we did well until now.”
Grant also reminded players that every time they step on the pitch they are representing 20 million Zambians and need to show passion.
“The national team is not a closed club. You need to show passion and sacrifice because we are not representing ourselves, we are representing 20 million people,” he said.
The Chipolopolo leave for Zanzibar on Sunday ahead of Wednesday’s clash with the Taifa Stars which will be staged at the refurbished 15,000 capacity Amaani Stadium.
Zambia’s duel with Tanzania will kick off at 21h00 CAT.
Zambia dates Tanzania away on October 8 before a home tie against Niger at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on October 12.
